Wednesday, January 25, 2006

Dear Pat

Dear Pat Kenny,It's Wednesday so no doubt you and your crew of researchers are busy putting together your line up for this weeks Late Late Show. I've no doubt that the Robert Hoolahan murder case will feature prominently. I'm sure that you are furiously working the contacts so that the nation can voyeuristically watch brave and heartbroken parents relive their worst nightmare for the benefit of TV ratings. Perhaps you'll be really brave and look at the case from the perspective of the O'Donoghue family. Whatever angle you take, I don't think that any good will be served.

So could you just do me a favour? Can you give both sides a break? Just leave them in peace to mourn their loss. I'm sure that there is some second rate soap star only too willing to be interviewed about his/her battle with the booze.With thanks,Paige

5 Comments:

Il be honest, ive always taken your position, as above, in relation to these horrid family intrusion media cicuses (holly and jessica?). It is ghastly absolutely ghastly. My one point on the matter is this. -Mrs Holohan made a statement in a court filled with journalists. She said what she said in full knowledge of the weight of her comments. Its exceptional in these cases that the intrusion is invited.Altogether however we have a system designed to avoid todays media circus. Designed ensure all citizens that justice is served without having a fanfare in the sun. Thats what democracy is about. So yes all in all you are right. If there is a second side to the story can we please see it in court.RR

I know I'm just a blow-in, but Mrs. Holohan's victim impact statement was very shocking to me. What's more shocking is the way the media have been reporting all of this as fact. These are allegations and should be reported as such. If there are further charges or if a civil case is taken (that's what typically happens in the US in these sorts of cases), that's the place to try to prove such allegations.

I take your point about letting the families mourn in peace and get over this whole ordeal without a camera crew in their faces...but to be honest, if that mother wants to have her say then I think she should be allowed to have it.

Her son is dead, he was taken from her for absolutely no reason at the age of just 11. Allegations or not she has the right to speak for her boy as his right to speak was cruelly ripped from him.

I had a discussion/argument with colleagues at lunchtime today where I said that I have not got one ounce of sympathy for Wayne O'Donoghue. I have sympathy for his family by all means, I can't even imagine what they are going through, but I have none for him. I don't accept that this was an accident in any sense of the word, he us responsible for that boy being dead, bottom line. Colleagues didn't agree, as I'm sure many others out there wouldn't agree and that's their right.

But I take your point that the issue shouldn't be forced and that if they request privacy, it should be afforded to them. I hope RTE will be sensitive enough to respect that....but again, if they want to talk, let them.